Wringer



20, 19 5. c. a. M'LLIAMS Em 2,369 10 WRINGER Filed Dec. 31 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet l m RL; w Ow Z m Feb. 20, 1945.- CJB. WILLIAMS ET AL WRINGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1938 Feb. 20, 1945. c. B. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,369,701

WRINGER Filed Dec. 31. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v Patented Feb. 20, 1945 unran STATES PATENT oFncE -2,3e9,7o1 Q I WEN-GER Charles. Williams, Shaker Heights, and

\ Thankmar Walter Kaestner, Cleveland, Ohio,

assignors; by direct and mesne assignments, to

Automatic Safety Wringer Company, ,Cleveland, Ohio, a. partnership composed of Charles B. Williams, Horace B.

Williams;

Fay, and Charles W.

Application D cember 31, 1938; Serial No. 248,734

- 2 Qlaims.

This invention relates to a clotheszwringer of the multiple bite type and is more particularly'directed to a three-roll clothes, wringer which clothes are, alternatively fed from either. side of the .wringer-thro'ug'h onleybite. as an auxiliary'bite and through another. aslapressure wringing bite. Reference is hereby made. to our application, Serial. No. 453,398, filed, August 6,1942.

In wringers of this type heretofore constructed it. has been found desirable to provide mechanism by which. a single movement of a controlhandle will control both .the' roll drive and the application of pressure thereto. k r it It hasjbeenthe chief object of our inventionto provide a wringer of thisnature. in which such control is simplified and in which the control may be operated with less pressurethan has heretofore beennecessary. l 3

I A furtherv object, of our invention hasbeen to provide pressure. applying means shiftable from coaction with one-roll bite-to c,oaction with the other and soarranged that. the line of application of spring pressure lies in a plane passing throughthe axes ofthe two rolls, between which wringer pressureis maintained. H

Other objects of this invention-will becomeapparent from the following descriptionwhen read in thelight of the annexed drawings. and, the novel features are summarized in the claims.

' In said annexeddrawings': I

. Fig. 1 is a transverse section in'afvertical plane through; thewringer; '1 Figs, 2, 3 and 4' are sections through Fig.1 asin- 'dicated, by the linesv 2 2,; 3I-3ifand= 4-4 respectively;

Fig. 5 is Fig. 1 with parts omitted:

Fig; -6 is a. section in the' same plane as. Fig. 5

with parts omitted but jshowing the mechanism -40 Figs. 7 and 8 are sections indicated by the lines in idle position;

1 and 8 -8 respectively 'on Fig.6;

a section'indifcated by heme Baron Fig. 9' is an end; elevationflof the improved Figs. 10 and l'l iare schematic. showings. of the release mechanism when engaged and when in' position to'rele'ase respectively; and

Fi 12 is'ja' erspecti e of theiroll' controlling pivoted end frames. y

In general the "wring'er comprises a pair of lower rolls mounted in a horizontal plane and in position .toieach coact' simultaneously with a top rollmountedthereabove. A powerdrive is suppliedto-a-ct' through reversing mechanism to drive a-ble pressure spring movable from coaction between the top roll and either of thelower rolls as desired is connected to a control bar which simultaneously shifts the same and controls. the direction of rotation of the wringer.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 9, there is provided a frame formed of two U-shapedchannel sections-l5 and-l ii welded to cross-frame members 18 and ill at each end of the wringer. The left end of the wringer. Fig. 1, is welded to a sheet metal head frame 20-, in which is. ro-tatably supported a stub shaft 22 to engage the wringer driving column onthe washing machine and thus provide a power connection to drive the rolls. Carried by the stubv shaft 22. is a bevel gear 24 driving a second gear 25 mountedon a wringer stub shaft 2! which is journalled in a collar 29 welded to the channel frames I5 and I6 and rea plate 31' provided at the top, with an inwardly extending, shoulder 3.8 to support the pressure spring assembly as hereafter 'described. The plates arejrecessed,v as best shown in Fig. 3 and indicated at 40,;Ito'iorm an irregular opening. converging at the center in a narrow upstanding rib 42' and a broad. downwardly depending rib M.

i The openings on each side of the ribs are symmetrical withthe long axis of the plate and permit play ofthe lower rolls as hereafter described. This opening, not lending itself to convenientde- *scription, is further defined as the opening ing cluded within the double. line indication of the reinforcing flange. 46, shown in Fig. 1

Each of the plates .35 is further provided with a seat for a wooden. roll journal 48,mou nted for sliding movement, in the slot 50 in line with the rib42. At its upper Bnd the slot is enlarged to permit removal of the journal blocks which are retained in theslot against displacement by rabbets'in the journals which are engaged, by the sides of the slot 50. 1 I

The, and frame members 31, as best shown in Fig. 12, each carry a shell 53 comprising a pair of flanges 54 bolted to the plates and through generally channelshaped ribs 55 merging at the vunsupported'end with a verticalbase plate 51.

Theupper roll is urged downwardly by a spring acting with movable journals 4.8. This spring, as shown in Fig. 1, comprises anupwardly bowed leaf 6i) engaged at its midportion by a screw 62,

former is alternatively applied at either roll bite while the latter is continually applied at both roll bites. Thus, as the spring 60 is shifted, as hereafter described, a wringing pressure bite is established at either side of the wringer desired and, due to the continued 'coaction of the auxiliary springs, the other bite is automatically retained in an intake auxiliary bite.

movement of the roll A under the action of the spring 60 and establish wringing pressure between the top roll and either of the lower rolls.

The lower rolls are carried in substantially fixed bodily relation to each other by a pair of double journals and H at opposite sides of the wringer. The journal 10 comprises a pair of flat plates retained in position with respect to each other by roll journals I3 brazed to each plate. A roller 14 surrounds each journal for purposes hereafter described and the shafts 15 of the rolls B and C lie within the journals. The double journal H is identical with the journal 10 except that the journals 13 are longer. as indicated, and support a third plate outwardly beyond the two named.

The purpose of the elongated journals at the right-hand side of the wringer, Fig. 1, is to insure that each of the rolls B and C will remain in parallel with the other and maintain the axis of each roll in a horizontal plane even when clothes are fed between one or the other of the rolls and the roll A, causing separation at the roll bite. This is because the shafts, having a minimum clearance with the journal blocks, are limited in the amount they can move out of line with the bearing axis as the length of the bearing surface increases. Expressed in another way. if a-bunch of clothes is fed between the top roll and either of the lower rolls at one end of the wringer the opposite end will drop equally with the feeding end. The purpose of this as hereafter described is to operate the automatic stop mechanism when excess material is fed to the rolls at either nd of the wringer without the necessity for duplication of release mechanism at each end of the wringer as heretofore employed. The lower rolls are normally maintained against the roll A by a light wire spring 80 bearing at the ends against channels l5 and I6 and bowed upwardly in the middle to lie in a transverse slot in lugs 82 brazed to the journals l0 and H, respectively. One end of each spring 80 is sharply bent to lie in a hole in the channel l5 and the opposite end of each spring lies in a transverse slot in the upper edge of the bottom member of the channel I 6. The springs are thus retained in position and yet allowed to contract and expand. The upward pressure exerted by these springs to maintain the rolls B and C in contact with the roll A establishes the feeding bite pressure. This pressure is heavy enough to grip and feed clothes to the pressure bite and yet is light enough to avoid injuring the fingers of the operator if they become caught therebetween. Further, the pressure is sufiiciently light to permit the operator to jerk her hand out of the intake roll bite.

Sidewise movement of the lower rolls is limited by the extensions at the ends of said rolls engag- The pressure spring 60 is shiftalble to coact with either roll bite desired in such a way as to apply its force in a line passing through the axes of the two rolls then acting as pressure rolls. This is an important feature of the invention because it applies the high roll pressure along a line permitting separation of the rolls as clothes are fed thereto in a manner to prevent binding of the movable roll journals with the supports against which they slide. The importance of this feature becomes apparent when it is recalled that wringing pressure is normally suiiicient to crush the operators hand when caught between the Wringer rolls.

The pressure spring shifting is accomplished by bodily shifting the end frames from a position shown in Fig. 3 through a neutral position to the position indicated by dotted lines in that figure. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the roll B is locked against movement in any direction and may only rotate in its supporting journals. Movement of the roll to the right in that figure is prevented by the contact of roller 14 carried about the journals of adjacent and commonly supported roll C against the curved side of the opening 40 heretofore described. The flange 36 surrounding this opening and shown in Fig. 7 provide adequate bearing for engagement by a roller 14 and thus, while preventing sidewise motion of the roll B, permits the roll C to drop freely as clothes are fed thereto. The roll C and the flange maintain contact because the latter is formed along an arc whose center is coincident with the axis of the roll B when in the position shown in Fig. 3.

Downward motion of the roll B in the locked position under discussion and incidental motion to the left are prevented by the narrow upstanding ribs 42 of the end frames 35 underlying the sleeve 14 of the corresponding journals. Thus, when the end frames are shifted to the position described, rolls A and B act as wringing rolls and roll C acts with roll A to provide a light pressure intake bite to the pressure roll bite. The adjustment of the handle 64, controlling the spring 60, should be set so that a slight upward movement of the lower roll, when engaged by the rib 42, applies the action of the spring to the top roll to initially load the bite with wringing pressure. As clothes are fed through the pressure bite their thickness results in upward movement of roll A'against the action of the spring along a line passing through the two coacting roll axes.

To shift the end frames 35a control bar 85 is employed extending across the wringer and secured to side arms 81 which are pivoted to the face plates 51 at 88. The ends of the arms 81 tally extending-regions 94 and" 95- res-pectively the former of whichaccommodates-pin 89 and t-helatter pin 92L- 'As -the-handl'e- 85 is shifted to the dotted? line position shown in Fig. 9 the pin-$89 at'gthe ends thereoffrideoutwardlyin the nasideof the openings. 94 until thesaid pins: abut the upper side thereof and limit further move ment of the handle.- At the same time; due to the pivot connection between, shells 53 and the,

handle 85 at 88 and, due to the position of the pins 91 i-n respective slots-'90, therewill be, a camming: of the drive mechanism in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) as hereafter (le scribed. This: movement carries lower pins 92 to the left (-Fig; 9*) untir the said pins underlie the upper portionof the left-handsideof the openings 95. When the pinswand 92 are thus positioned the'mechanism is so retained that although the pr-e'ssure' spring 60 is actively'applied" between rollsA and- B (-Fig'. 4-) therejs noten'denCy forthe handl'etS to return to an upward posh tion. At the sametimeaslight pressure-on the handletoward-the center-of the wringer willpermit the wringing-pressure to-be released because this movementissufficient to rock the pins 02 to clear" the upper part ofthe right-hand-side of opening- 93. When the handle 05 is swung across the wringer to the left-hand side thereof withreference to-Fig. 9 the'pins 89'will lieon the'right hand sideiof theopenings 94'. p I I As the handle is swung to either side-ofthevwringer and the pins engage the corresponding side of the abovedescribed openings the ribs 42 of thep1ates-3'I ride-under the sleeves I4 of the roll on the opposite side of the wringer from-that toward which the handle is swung. Thus, re-

ferring to Figs. 3 and 5, when the handle is swung to the right the ribs 42 engage the sleeves 14 of roll B and cam the same upwardly against roll- A to forcethat roll slightly upwardly against spring 60 and apply wringing pressure at the roll bite between rolls'A and B. When the handle is swung in the opposite direction the wringing bite ismaintained between rolls A and C. In either case the bitewhich does not act as the wringing bite-will be under light auxiliary pressure due to the action of the auxiliary springs 80.

Power is applied from the shaft 21 to drive either roll B and C as desired and, through friction therewith, to also drive the roll A. This driving mechanism is best shown in Figs. 1,2, 5

and 6. Carriedby the shaftZT is a gear box I 7 and a drive gear [02, which latteris pinned to the shaft. The gear I02 drivesa gear I04 and through it a second gear I05 mounted in the gear box. The gear I04 may b positioned as shown in Fig. 5 to drivingly engage a gear I08 pinned to the shaft of roll B, and the gear I 05 is likewise adapted to engage a gear I I 0 pinned to the shaft of the roll 0. As shown in Fig. l, the gear. I04 is 'of sufficient width to permit engaging the gear 7 I05 and the gear I08 in a position offset from the location of gear I02. W

From the foregoing description it will be seen that as the handle 85 is shifted clockwise, (Figs. 5 and 6) drive is established to the roll B from the gear I02 through gear I04 and thence, to the roll. gear I08. To this endthe gear box I00 becomes shifted under the influence of pin 92 ona stamp ing us (Fig. 2) hereafter described. The spring pressure between rolls A and B causes the former to be driven through the latter and in like manner the pressure of the springs 80 results in the driving of roll C-due to. contact with roll A. When the 'parts are in this position wringing pressure willbe applied between rolls a and B and the rolls will rotate in such direction that clothes may 'passbetween the two roll bites; from-right to:

left.

To reverse the wringer itis only necessaryto throw the handle 85 from: the position shown Fig. 5; through: the neutral position of Fig. 6 into the dotted line-#position of-Fig. 3; Thus the rolls A and B will be fri'ctionally: driven due to the driving of roll Any-roll C. This-driveoccurs because the gear I 05 wi-ll in thisposition be in mesh with: the gear Hi0 andthe gear I 05 is driven through. the. gear I041 and? the gear I02". -When the gear- I' to is. driven there: is. in effect an. additional gear interposed in the train. and this effectsa reversal:

are so positioned that there is no driving relation with either ofthe gears I08 or I-I0.

Rotation of the. pressure rolls is automatically, terminated upon feeding an excess, thickness of material to the wringer. The means by which this is accomplished is best shown in Figs; 2, 8;

10 and 1 1 A U-sha-'ped stampin H5 is formed" to lie against: and: partially surround thegear box I00. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this stamping in cludes an elongated opening encircling the sleeve 29 carrying the stub shaft '21. This elongated opening terminates at the top in a narrow slot which embraces the pin 92 on the drive side of the wringer. The stamping is normally held upwardly against the journal 29 by a small coil spring I I1, bearing atone end within the stamping and at the other end against a stud II8 threadingly secured in the bottom of the gear box.

From the description so far it will be apparent that the gear box, otherwise normally free to pivot as it would; is maintained in position by the engagement of the stamping I I5 closely about it and when the pin 92 lies within the aforesaid stamping slot. The pin 92 is in turn held in position, depending on the location of the handle which-acts to swing the assembly in which the pin 92 is secured, It follows that if the stamping H5 is slid downwardly along the gear box I00 against the spring I I! the slot therein will no longer engage the pin 92 and the gear box will be free to pivot. When this occurs, the driving engagement between either gear I04 or I05 and respective roll gears will cease as the load on the rolls will cause the engaged gears to easily ridev out of engagement with each other.

The stamping I I5 is dropped and the roll rotation terminated upon movement of the lower roll acting to establish the feed bite a predetermined distance from thetop roll. To this end an arm I20 is secured to the head end lug 82 of the lower roll journal and extends outwardly lengthwise of the Wringer in position to overlie a pin I22 carried by the channel I I5. Referring to Fig. 1 it will beseen that the opposing holes in the sides of the stamping which accommodate the pin I22 are duplicated in vertical rows to permit location of the pin at various heights with respect to the stamping. This permits adjustment of the position at which the drive is terminated when the auxiliary lower roll moves away from the top roll. Referring to Fig. 10, the member I20 is normally positioned slightly above the upper end of the pin I22 and as thick material passes into the pressure bite, as shown in Fig. 11, the lower auxiliary roll drops away from the top roll pivoting the double roll journal blocks about the opposite lower roll, This in turn drops the member I20 until it contacts with one end of the rod I22, pushing the same downwardly and carrying with it the stamping I I 5. This draws the portion forming the slot surrounding the pin 92 downwardly and, as above described, releases the gear box I to permit the gears I04 and I08 to rotate out of engagement with each other.

As shown in the drawings, the mechanism is duplicated at each side of the Wringer to permit automatic termination of the roll rotation, although the same has only been described when the wringer is positioned to feed clothes from right to left in the drawing.

A drain board I25 (Figs. 1 and 9) is pivotally secured to the main frame by pins I21 to enable it to be rocked from side to side to discharge water at either side of the wringer desired. The

stud II8 engages at one side or the other of the plate I30 carried by the drain board and as the handle 85 is shifted from one side of the wringer to the other the drain board is likewise shifted.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that this invention is directed to a novel clothes wringer which permits automatic control of the wringer drive and simple manual control tinctly claim as our invention:

1. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of rolls carried by said frame, power means to drive said rolls and mechanism to drivingly connect said rolls to said power means to rotate said rolls in either direction desired, comprising two gears carried by respective rolls, a member mounted for shifting movement transversely to the axis of said rolls, a pair of meshing gears carried by said member, a power connection to drive said gears and means to shift said member to alternatively engage one member gear with one roll gear or the other member gear with the other roll gear.

2. In a wringer, a frame, three rolls carried by said frame with their axes triangularly spaced apart and with one roll coasting with each of the other two to Provide a pair of roll bites, power means to drive said rolls and a driving connection coupled with said power means and including two power take-offs rotating in opposite directions, and means to alternatively couple one of said take-offs with one of the said other two rolls to rotate the same in either direction desired.

CHARLES B. WILLIAMS. THANKMAR WALTER KAES'I'NER. 

